STEPHENSON HARWOOD

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With a particular focus on cases involving professional services firms, insolvent companies and financial institutions, Paul has experience in obtaining successful outcomes for a range of clients across multiple sectors, including bringing and defending substantial claims, advising on professional conduct issues, and advising on the resolution of risk management issues.

Commercial litigation

Dispute resolution

Professional and management liability

Restructuring and insolvency

Commercial litigation

Paul has broad experience of achieving successful outcomes for clients in a range of high value commercial disputes.

Rangers Football Club

Acting for the BDO liquidators of Rangers Football Club on several pieces of high value litigation, including damages claims against the company's parent company and former solicitors. Claims were brought in fraud, negligence and breach of trust. The case has been settled on confidential terms.

Professional services/accountancy

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Arbitration – breach of contract

Advising a Scandinavian vessel management company in respect of multi-million dollar arbitration proceedings arising under a ship management agreement. The case has been settled on confidential terms.

'Phishing' fraud

Acting for the German arm of Armstrong World Industries in a claim to recover property stolen from it by fraudsters in the course of a "phishing" scam relating to the market in EU carbon trading credits. Following a trial, judgment (including a costs award) was successfully obtained in the client's favour and enforced.

Receivership

Acting for enforcement receivers appointed under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in complex proceedings concerning entitlement to the assets of a convicted fraudster.

Dispute resolution

Paul has broad experience of achieving successful outcomes for clients in a range of high value commercial disputes.

Rangers Football Club

Acting for the BDO liquidators of Rangers Football Club on several pieces of high value litigation, including damages claims against the company's parent company and former solicitors. Claims were brought in fraud, negligence and breach of trust. The case has been settled on confidential terms.

Professional services/accountancy

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Arbitration – breach of contract

Advising a Scandinavian vessel management company in respect of multi-million dollar arbitration proceedings arising under a ship management agreement. The case has been settled on confidential terms.

'Phishing' fraud

Acting for the German arm of Armstrong World Industries in a claim to recover property stolen from it by fraudsters in the course of a "phishing" scam relating to the market in EU carbon trading credits. Following a trial, judgment (including a costs award) was successfully obtained in the client's favour and enforced.

Receivership

Acting for enforcement receivers appointed under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in complex proceedings concerning entitlement to the assets of a convicted fraudster.

Professional and management liability

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting both for and against professionals.

KPMG

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Rangers Football Club

Acting for the BDO liquidators of Rangers Football Club in high value damages claims against the company's former solicitors, which have now been settled on confidential terms.

Big 4 firm

Advising a professional services firm on the defence of a contract and negligence claim in the High Court in relation to the provision of tax services. The claim was struck out and the client was awarded its costs.

Professional conduct advice

Acting for professional services firms and individuals, including insolvency practitioners, in relation to allegations as to the officeholder’s professional conduct. Examples include acting for joint administrators in opposing an application for their removal from office.

Risk management issues

Advising professional services firms and individual professionals on the successful navigation of risk management issues with the potential to lead to litigation if not resolved.

Third party disclosure requests

Advising professional services firms in relation to the successful resolution of a range of third party disclosure requests, including under the Civil Procedure Rules, the rules of the First Tier Tribunal (Tax), section 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and pursuant to letters of request from overseas courts.

Audit negligence

Acting as insurers' representatives in respect of large and complex audit negligence cases in overseas jurisdictions, arising out of large scale frauds and corporate collapses.

Restructuring and insolvency

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting for insolvency professionals and creditors.

Rangers Football Club

Acting for the BDO on the liquidation of Rangers Football Club, involving several pieces of high value litigation, including the pursuit of claims for fraud, negligence and breach of trust.

Liquidators of Peak Hotels and Resorts Limited

Advising KPMG on the liquidation of Peak Hotels and Resorts Limited, a former co-owner of the luxury Aman Resorts chain, including in relation to an application for declaratory relief as to the nature and extent of security interests, which raised novel points of law.

Professional conduct advice

Acting for insolvency practitioners and their firms in relation to allegations as to professional conduct, including acting for joint administrators in opposing an application for their removal from office.

Receivership

Acting for enforcement receivers appointed under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 respect of the assets of a convicted fraudster.

Creditor of a sports team

Advising a creditor of an insolvent sports team in relation to high value sums owed by the team

Law firms

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting both for and against law firms.

Liquidators of Peak Hotels and Resorts Limited

Advising liquidators from KPMG on proceedings relating to a secured claim brought against the company by its former solicitors. The proceedings involve a novel point of law relating to the quantum of solicitors’ fees payable under a floating charge pursuant to section 245 of the Insolvency Act 1985.

An international law firm

Advising an international law firm in relation to proceedings against a former partner, settled on confidential terms.

Rangers Football Club

Bringing high value damages claims in negligence, fraud and breach of trust against the former solicitors of Rangers Football Club, which have now been settled on confidential terms.

Accountancy firms

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting both for and against accountancy firms and accountants.

KPMG

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Big 4 firm

Advising a professional services firm on the defence of a contract and negligence claim in the High Court in relation to the provision of tax services. The claim was struck out and the client was awarded its costs.

Professional conduct advice

Acting for professional services firms and individuals, including insolvency practitioners, in relation to allegations as to the officeholder’s professional conduct. Examples include acting for joint administrators in opposing an application for their removal from office.

Risk management issues

Advising professional services firms and individual professionals on the successful navigation of risk management issues with the potential to lead to litigation if not resolved.

Third party disclosure requests

Advising professional services firms in relation to the successful resolution of a range of third party disclosure requests, including under the Civil Procedure Rules, the rules of the First Tier Tribunal (Tax), section 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and pursuant to letters of request from overseas courts.

Audit negligence

Acting as insurers' representatives in respect of large and complex audit negligence cases in overseas jurisdictions, arising out of large scale frauds and corporate collapses.

Professional services

Paul has experience of achieving successful outcomes acting both for and against professionals.

KPMG

Advising KPMG in the successful defence of a US$50 million negligence claim in respect of VAT advice. The claim was struck out on multiple grounds and the client was awarded its costs.

Rangers Football Club

Bringing high value damages claims in negligence, fraud and breach of trust against the former solicitors of Rangers Football Club, which have now been settled on confidential terms.

Big 4 firm

Advising a professional services firm on the defence of a contract and negligence claim in the High Court in relation to the provision of tax services. The claim was struck out and the client was awarded its costs.

Professional conduct advice

Acting for professional services firms and individuals, including insolvency practitioners, in relation to allegations as to the officeholder’s professional conduct. Examples include acting for joint administrators in opposing an application for their removal from office.

Risk management issues

Advising professional services firms and individual professionals on the successful navigation of risk management issues with the potential to lead to litigation if not resolved.

Third party disclosure requests

Advising professional services firms in relation to the successful resolution of a range of third party disclosure requests, including under the Civil Procedure Rules, the rules of the First Tier Tribunal (Tax), section 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and pursuant to letters of request from overseas courts.